The 2008 National Security Budget and Briefing Slides

President Bush’s fiscal year 2008 (FY 08) Pentagon budget seeks $624.6 billion, not including additional national defense costs for the Department of Energy and other federal agencies (an additional $22.6 billion). Moreover, a comprehensive calculation might also include the costs of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of State (add another $159.1 billion). Combining all national security related costs would total $802.9 billion for FY 08.

The Pentagon’s budget alone calculates to $1.7 billion per day for 2008. It’s highly probable that our enemies in Iraq do not spend that amount in an entire year, and yet we are losing this war.

Three briefing slides prepared by Winslow Wheeler, director of the Straus Military Reform Project, track these costs using various perspectives.

At the time of publication Mr. Wheeler's was the director of the Straus Military Reform Project of the Center For Defense Information at POGO.

The goal of the Straus Military Reform Project is to secure far more effective military forces and much more ethical and professional military and civilian leadership at significantly lower budget levels.

We would like to thank Philip A. Straus Jr. and family for their generous support.

Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that champions good government reforms. POGO’s investigations into corruption, misconduct, and conflicts of interest achieve a more effective, accountable, open, and ethical federal government.